ORLAND, CA (MPG) - Fittingly, the final singles match win of the season for the Gridley High School tennis team… came in a tiebreak.

After 19 tiebreaks this season (13 of which resulted in heartbreak), the 20th not only resulted in a win but propelled Gridley’s top seed, sophomore Ryan Woolery, to the quarterfinals of the Butte View League Championship.

Using a combination of topspin, side spin and flat serves, some of which he had just learned within the last two days, Woolery was able to take down Oroville’s sophomore No. 2 seed, See Xae Yang by a score of 9-8 (after a 7-5 tiebreak). The first serves were crucial to the outcome, as was Woolery’s newfound willingness to hit the ball to all areas of the court.

Gridley coach Bob Moffitt praised Woolery for his ability to adapt his game and keep his head during a stressful match.

“Ryan is a true competitor in every sense of the word,” Moffitt said. “There is zero quit in the kid. But, in the past, he might have let his emotions get the better of him. Today, he focused on each point and his plan of attack for each point. Yes, he worked on adding physical skills to his repertoire just this week, but I am most happy to see him really put the mental part of the game together with the physical.”

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In the playoff format, the first two rounds go to eight games, as the winner must win by two. If there is a tie, a first to seven tiebreak is played, again with a requirement to win by two. Yang had previously defeated Woolery 6-0, 6-3 and had squeaked out a win over Gridley junior Spencer Davis 2-6, 6-4, 10-8 in this season’s head-to-head matchups. But not on April 21.

Davis came back in his match with Corning junior Francisco Hernandez to tie matters at five. But Hernandez won the last three games, with a couple of crucial line calls that could have gone either way, to win 8-5.

An even closer match ended with a deceiving score of 8-3 and a victory for Oroville freshman Aaryan Patel over Gridley junior No. 3 seed Cole Leishman. Leishman also deployed his newfound serving skills to great effect and sent nearly every game to deuce. However, the score was not as lopsided as it would appear. Johnson took his match to 6-7 against Oroville freshman Noushue Yang. Though Johnson was able to use his height to great effect in keeping rallies alive, Yang was finally able to close him out 8-6.

Gridley junior Juan Avelar and freshman Cesar Ortiz never got going and fell 0-8 and 1-8 to Corning sophomore Hayden Carter and junior Francisco Ruiz Jr., respectively. Gridley sophomore No. 5 seed Eric Ramirez was battling a cold but held his own against Orland No. 3 seed, Junior Galvan. Galvan had previously beaten the Bulldogs’ Woolery and Davis, but he struggled against the quick-footed Ramirez. Though the final score was 8-0 for Galvan, he had to survive deuce multiple times and Ramirez was able to prepare for his doubles match feeling somewhat confident.

Ramirez had reason to feel confidence. With playing partner Ortiz, the two bulldozed Oroville’s No. 3 seeded doubles team, senior Tien Chao and Patel, with solid net coverage and aggressive swings of the racquet when opportunities arose. Ramirez and Ortiz advanced to the quarterfinals 8-4.

Moffitt praised the duo, who were both linemen on the Bulldogs’ football team.

“They take up a lot of space and they are fast,” Moffitt said. “I’ve played against both and it’s pretty intimidating seeing them charge the net and then have to react once they clobber the ball. Their aggressiveness is usually rewarded and it was again today.”

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The pair would fall to Orland’s No. 3 seeded duo of Ethan Orozco and Cheeto Garcia 8-3. Woolery would also fall in his quarterfinal match to Orozco 8-0.

After the matches, Moffitt described the finals and season as a success.

“I told the kids on the first day that winning wasn’t important and it’s not. Improving and competing to the best of your ability are,” Moffitt said. “My few regrets in life come from not giving my all at something or, when I was these kids’ age, being afraid to try. In the end, the kids who were competitive today tried. They put in the hours.

“They worked to get better. In the end, some of the score sheets say winner. Some sheets don’t. That still doesn’t matter. They are winners because they gave their best effort and they improved. That’s all you can really ask for.”

The Bulldogs are hoping to improve their facilities for next year. Maintenance is developing a plan to fix the cracks in the courts. The players have raised about $400 so far from lemonade sales, recycling drives and community contributions.

The current team hopes to give next year’s roster net cranks and a ball machine that works, a sunshade to keep the sun out of their eyes when they serve and a refurbished coach’s bench to replace the rotting wood that is there now. Players also recently completed a hit-a-thon. If you or your business would like to support the school and these boys, please contact Moffitt by email at [email protected].